PANVEL MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCEMENT WILL TAKE TIME

PANVEL: Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur has ruled out the possibility that the state government will announce the formation of Panvel Municipal Corporation ( PMC) on January 26. Thakur has said that while the government is looking positively at the issue, the process will take longer because various formalities have to be completed.

Speaking at a press conference in Panvel on Saturday, Thakur said, “Under the leadership of former MP Ramseth Thakur, we met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with the demand for for mation of PMC with the inclusion of areas around Panvel Municipal Council, that is, Kharghar, Kalamboli, Kamothe, Ulwe, Karanja and others. He had given us a positive response.”

Thakur said, “He has now formed a committee to look into the proposal and submit a report to him in a month. Meanwhile, our council too has approved a resolution, a couple of days ago, approving the proposal.”

Thakur said, “Though there has been speculation that the announcement about PMC will take place on January 26, it is not practically possible. Once the committee submits its report, the government will study it and there could be more discussion. Later, the government will also call for suggestions and objections from the public. This will take time.”

Thakur said, “Though we cannot put a date on the announcement, what is sure is that it will happen.”

Stating that the smart city project of City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) will not clash with the municipal corporation’s powers, Thakur said, “The government has planned the development of the region under Cidco MD Sanjay Bhatia, who is the mentor of the smart city project. If the corporation comes into being, the government will clarify the powers of the bodies.”

He said, “It is obvious that Cidco has not been able to take care of the basic civic amenities of the region and that is why people have organised many morchas. All this will be taken into consideration.”